Chapter Five: The Rise of the Green Duckweed
As the summer heat intensifies, the willow branches along the canal droop low in the hot wind, but they cannot conceal the surging undercurrents beneath the water's surface.
Before dawn, the Yongsheng Escort Agency in western Yangzhou was already bustling with activity.
As the eastern sky began to lighten with the first hint of dawn, a dozen mule carts were neatly lined up in the training ground of the escort agency. Each cart was covered with a thick tarpaulin, and the red mark of "Yongsheng Escort Agency" could be faintly seen at the edge of the tarpaulin—it was carrying the five hundred shi of official salt that the Shen family was transporting to southern Anhui.
Lin Xiao, dressed in a striking indigo outfit with a short sword at her waist and a riding whip in her hand, was inspecting the binding of the tarpaulins on each cart. Her movements were swift and her eyes sharp, not missing a single detail—yesterday's roadblock by the canal gang had made her realize that this shipment was far more dangerous than she had imagined; a slight mishap could not only jeopardize the salt goods but also ruin the reputation of the escort agency.
"Xiao'er, come here for a moment." Lin Zhennan's voice came from the front hall of the escort agency, his tone somewhat solemn. He held a folded map in his hand, his brows furrowed, clearly having received important news.
Lin Xiao quickly walked to her father's side, took the map, and unfolded it.
The map is marked with two routes in vermilion ink: one is the original route, which goes through the waterway via Heishuidang and then turns to land to reach southern Anhui; the other is a new route, which bypasses Heishuidang and takes the Qixia Mountain Ancient Road instead. However, this route is nearly 200 li longer than the original route and the mountain road is rugged, so it will take at least two more days.
"Old Madam Shen just sent a message, telling us that we must change our route to the Qixia Mountain Ancient Road." Lin Zhennan pointed to Heishuidang on the map. "Heishuidang is the territory of Liu Sanye of the Canal Gang. Last night they dared to cause trouble on the official road. If we take the waterway, we will probably encounter even greater trouble—the Canal Gang members fight in the water, and our bodyguards are mostly skilled on land, so they won't have any advantage."
Lin Xiao frowned, his finger lightly tracing the route of the Qixia Mountain Ancient Road: "I've heard of the Qixia Mountain Ancient Road. It's a difficult road, mostly through desolate mountains and wilderness, making resupply inconvenient. But you're right, this road is quiet, with few merchant caravans and bandits. The Shen family is well-informed; they must have found out something that led us to change our route. Father, I'll arrange for people to prepare now. We'll set off in half an hour and try to reach the post station at the foot of Qixia Mountain before sunset."
Looking at his daughter's determined expression, Lin Zhennan felt both gratified and worried.
He patted Lin Xiao's shoulder heavily, his tone solemn: "Be careful! Remember, the goods are our priority, but if we encounter a danger we can't handle, prioritize saving the people—the brothers from the escort agency rely on us for their livelihood, we can't let them die in vain."
"Your daughter understands!" Lin Xiao bowed and replied, then turned and strode towards the caravan to begin arranging the rerouting.
Upon hearing that they were to change their route, the bodyguards had some doubts, but they knew that Lin Zhennan and Lin Xiao's decision must have its reasons. They all sprang into action, checking their weapons and packing their belongings. A tense yet orderly atmosphere permeated the entire bodyguard agency courtyard.
Inside the canal gang's branch headquarters beside the Blackwater Pond, the smell of alcohol and anxiety mingled together.
Scarface Li stood dejectedly before the branch leader, "River Dragon," his face bearing several scratches—scratches inflicted yesterday when he went to stake out the escort agency to confirm if the caravan was indeed changing its route, only to be spotted by the patrol supervisor from the Shen family and frantically flee, getting scratched by tree branches. He clutched a crumpled piece of paper in his hand, containing the "information" he had painstakingly extracted from Lin Xiao's cousin, but now it was a hot potato.
"Useless! Utterly useless!" Hunjianglong kicked over the low table in front of him, smashing the wine jars and teacups on the ground, shards flying everywhere, and wine soaking the floor. "I asked you to investigate the route of Yongsheng Escort Agency, and after three days you came back with this lousy news that they might take the Blackwater Marsh route? Now look what's happened, the Shen family has directly ordered the escort agency to change their route to the Qixia Mountain Ancient Road, all our previous arrangements have been wasted!"
Scarface Li trembled with fear and immediately knelt down, pleading with a bitter face, "Master, it's not that I'm useless! That Lin Xiao is too cunning! I tried to get information out of her cousin, and as soon as I found out that 'they might be going through Blackwater Marsh,' Lin Xiao sensed something was wrong and confined her cousin to the escort agency! Later, when I wanted to go and keep watch again, the Shen family sent more patrols, and I couldn't even get close to the gate of the escort agency. I could only watch them load the carts from afar until I saw the mule carts heading towards Qixia Mountain before I dared to come back and report!"
"How are we going to explain this to Master Pan?" The River Dragon crouched down, grabbing Scarface Li's hair, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Back in the secret room, Master Pan believed us and agreed to give the Canal Gang two hundred taels of 'tea money,' and even said that the Baolong Salt Ship would get an extra ten percent in 'passage fees' when it passed through the Blackwater Marsh. Now the caravan has changed course, and we haven't even touched a single grain of salt from the Shen family. How are we going to ask Master Pan for any benefits?"
Scarface Li winced in pain, cold sweat beading on his forehead. Suddenly remembering something, he hurriedly said, "Master... Master, spare my life! Although the Qixia Mountain Ancient Road is remote, it's high and densely forested, perfect for an ambush! We've had dealings with the bandits there before. If we give them some money, they can destroy the salt goods. Even if they investigate afterward, it will only go back to the bandits, not our Canal Gang!"
The River Dragon's eyes lit up. He released his grip on Scarface Li's hair, stood up, and paced back and forth, his fingers tracing the "River" character plaque at his waist. "You're right," he said, "the Qixia Mountain Ancient Road is indeed a good place to make our move. But remember one thing—let the bandits destroy the goods, don't kill anyone, and above all, don't expose our identity as members of the Canal Gang. Master Pan wants to ruin the Shen family's reputation, not for us to become mortal enemies with them."
He turned to Scarface Li, his tone sinister: "This time, you personally contact the bandits! Tell them that as long as they destroy the Shen family's salt goods, I'll give them one hundred taels of silver, and another fifty taels after the deed is done. If they dare to play tricks, or leak any information related to the Grand Canal Gang, I'll make sure they can never stay in Yangzhou again!"
Scarface Li quickly scrambled to his feet, dusted himself off, and put on a fawning smile: "Don't worry, Master! I'll go right away! I've dealt with those bandits before; they're incredibly greedy. As long as you pay enough silver, I'll definitely get it done cleanly and efficiently! I guarantee that all of the Shen family's salt will be destroyed at Qixia Mountain, not even a single grain of salt will reach southern Anhui!" With that, he pocketed the deposit handed over by Hunjianglong, hurriedly left the branch, and headed towards Qixia Mountain.
Watching Scarface Li's retreating figure, Hunjianglong picked up the remaining half-jar of wine on the table, took a large gulp, and the wine dripped down his chin, soaking his clothes. He was shrewd in his mind—if it succeeded, he could gain benefits from Pan Shizhang and also make the Shen family suffer; if it failed, the bandits would take the blame, and the Canal Gang would at most be branded as "misjudging people," so he wouldn't lose out either way.
Despite her fatigue from the banquet at the Cao residence the previous night and the turmoil on the official road, Shen Rulan did not get up late.
As soon as it was light, she appeared in the council hall of the Shen residence. She wore a dark robe with subtle patterns, which made her face appear calm and her eyes sharp, without revealing any dark circles under her eyes.
Inside the council hall, more than twenty people, including the managers of salt fields from various parts of Shenfu, the supervisors of the canal transport, and the accountants, stood solemnly with their hands at their sides, not daring to breathe loudly.
They all held account books and reports, waiting to report the recent situation to Shen Rulan. Since Old Madam Shen handed over most of the Shen family's businesses to Shen Rulan, the weekly meeting every Monday morning has become a regular event. Shen Rulan's strictness and decisiveness have also made these seasoned veterans who have been in the business world for many years dare not slack off in the slightest.
“Manager of the Wuhu branch,” Shen Rulan’s gaze fell on a middle-aged man in a blue long gown, her tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority, “the three thousand taels of silver lent to Zhang’s Salt Shop in Wuhu last month must be returned within three days, and will not be renewed. Zhang’s has been getting very close to Pan Shizhang recently, and we cannot lend silver to a potential rival.”
The manager of the Wuhu branch bowed and replied, "Yes! I will send someone to Wuhu immediately and make sure the money is recovered within three days!"
Shen Rulan nodded, then turned her gaze to the manager of the Songjiang Saltworks: "The price of sea salt in Songjiang has been a bit too high lately. Go and arrange for the price to be reduced by another 50%. Tell the salt merchants in Songjiang that if they don't agree, they can forget about getting the salt permit quota from our Shen family next year—our Shen family holds 30% of the salt permits in Songjiang, they dare not refuse."
The manager of the Songjiang Saltworks felt a chill run down his spine and quickly replied, "Understood! I'll go to Songjiang today to negotiate prices with the salt merchants and guarantee to fulfill your orders, young master!"
“And the accountant,” Shen Rulan said, looking at the accountant standing at the back, “you send someone to investigate which small salt merchants Pan Shizhang has been frequently in contact with lately, how much he has taken for personal gain, and how much bribery he has received. Make sure the accounts are clear. In particular, investigate his little tricks at the salt fields in northern Jiangsu very carefully. Once you find evidence, send it directly to the Salt Transport Commissioner’s office. Although Zhao Dexian is greedy, he won’t allow Pan Shizhang to embezzle salt taxes. We can use Zhao Dexian to cause some trouble for Pan Shizhang.”
The accountant bowed and replied, "Yes! I will arrange for someone to investigate immediately and guarantee to give the young master a reply within five days!"
Shen Rulan spoke slowly and clearly, each command hitting the nail on the head without any hesitation.
She stood before the main seat in the council hall, her gaze sweeping over the crowd, her tone suddenly turning serious: "Yangzhou has been quite turbulent lately. Pan Shizhang and Cao Jin are both keeping an eye on our Shen family. Everyone must be on high alert and mind their own business. If anyone dares to neglect their duties or collude with foreign enemies, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
The crowd immediately responded in unison, "Yes! We wouldn't dare!"
After the council meeting ended, everyone left the council hall, leaving only Rong Momo behind.
Seeing the dark circles under Shen Rulan's eyes, she felt a pang of anxiety and quickly handed him a cup of warm ginseng tea: "Young Master, you didn't sleep well last night and had to deal with business early this morning. Have some ginseng tea to nourish yourself. The old lady specially asked the kitchen to make it, saying it can refresh you."
Shen Rulan took the ginseng tea, took a sip, and the warm tea slid down her throat, relieving her tired body a little.
Looking at Rong Mama's worried eyes, she said softly, "Thank you, Rong Mama. I'm fine, I've just been a bit busy lately, I'll get used to it."
Granny Rong sighed, "Young Master, please don't push yourself too hard. The Old Madam often says that the Shen family's business is important, but your health is even more important. If you collapse from exhaustion, there will truly be no one left to support the Shen family."
Shen Rulan felt a warmth in her heart and nodded, "I understand, Granny Rong. I will be careful." She knew that Granny Rong was genuinely looking out for her, but she had no way out—the heavy burden of the Shen family rested on her shoulders. She had to support the family, not disappoint her grandmother, and not let the Shen family fall in this contest.
The "Moxiangzhai" calligraphy and painting shop in Yangzhou City is currently exuding a lively, bustling atmosphere.
The shop was filled with all kinds of paintings and calligraphy works, including landscapes, flowers and birds, and calligraphy. Literati and artists came in an endless stream to buy them, and Manager Chen was extremely busy.
Su Moqing stood in a corner of the shop, holding a newly painted scroll of "Visiting Friends in Autumn Mountains," her expression somewhat hesitant. She had ultimately come to "Moxiangzhai," not to the Shen family's library—her father's words had instructed her to deliberately keep her distance from Shen Rulan—but she needed to have her finished painting reviewed by Manager Chen, to hear the opinions of the common people, and perhaps… to indirectly glean some news about the Shen family from here?
She felt a little ashamed of her inexplicable thought, yet she couldn't help wanting to know about the current situation of that "Young Master Shen".
"Miss Su, you've finally arrived!" Upon seeing Su Moqing, Manager Chen immediately put down his account book and strode over, his face beaming with smiles. "The 'Ink Orchid Painting' you sent last time was taken a liking to by a wealthy merchant from out of town, who bought it for fifty taels of silver! I was just about to send someone to inform you!"
Su Moqing was overjoyed. Fifty taels of silver was enough for her father's medical expenses for half a month. She handed the painting "Visiting Friends in Autumn Mountains" to Manager Chen: "Manager Chen, this is my newly painted 'Visiting Friends in Autumn Mountains.' Take a look. If you think it's alright, you can put it in the shop for consignment."
Shopkeeper Chen took the scroll, carefully unfurled it, and a look of amazement flashed in his eyes.
Autumn is in full swing in the painting, with the forests ablaze with color. Distant peaks rise sharply, seemingly hidden amidst the misty clouds; nearby, maple leaves blaze like fire, as brilliant as the sunset, contrasting beautifully with the ancient pines and cypresses. Along the winding mountain path, an old man walks with a cane, followed by a young boy carrying a zither. A stream rushes from between the rocks, its ripples delicately drawn, as if the sound of its gentle murmur could leap off the page. The entire painting is executed with vigorous brushstrokes and elegant colors, especially the red of the maple leaves, achieved through layers of carmine and vermilion, a serene blend of brightness and artistry.
"Excellent! Excellent!" Manager Chen couldn't help but exclaim. "Miss Su's painting skills are becoming more and more exquisite! I'll set the price at eighty taels of silver for this 'Autumn Mountains Visiting Friends' painting; I guarantee it will fetch a good price!"
Su Moqing quickly said, "Manager Chen, eighty taels is too much, fifty taels will suffice."
"Not at all!" Shopkeeper Chen waved his hand, his tone ingratiating. "Miss Su has really climbed the social ladder now! Young Master Shen appreciates you so much, your paintings will definitely become more and more valuable in the future! Young Master Shen is a big shot in Yangzhou!" He gave a thumbs up, his tone full of admiration. "To have won his favor, Miss, your future is limitless!"
Su Moqing frowned slightly, disliking such remarks about currying favor with the powerful. She simply said, "Shopkeeper, you are joking. I was just asked by Young Master Shen to paint some decorative paintings for the Shen family's garden. It's just a matter of buying and selling paintings. There's no question of climbing the social ladder."
Seeing that Su Moqing was unwilling to talk more, Manager Chen stopped talking and went to greet the other guests.
Su Moqing was standing inside the shop, about to leave, when she heard two well-dressed merchants chatting in another corner of the shop. Their voices were not loud, but they reached her ears clearly.
"Have you heard? At the banquet at the Cao residence last night, the young master of the Shen family didn't give young master Cao any face at all, he didn't even drink a single cup of wine!"
"That's not all! I heard from the servants at the Cao residence that Young Master Cao wanted to arrange a marriage with the Shen family and marry Miss Zhiwei from the second branch of the Shen family, but Young Master Shen rejected him on the spot! Young Master Cao's face turned pale!"
"Tsk tsk, the Cao family has the background of imperial merchants and the support of the Imperial Household Department. Isn't Shen Rulan a bit too arrogant? Isn't she afraid of retaliation from the Cao family?"
"What do you know! Young Master Shen has the backing! The Shen family holds a stable position among the salt merchants in Yangzhou, controlling most of the salt permits. Young Master Cao wants to form a marriage alliance, but he just wants to use the Shen family's influence to gain a foothold in Yangzhou. How could Young Master Shen not see that?"
"That's true. But I also heard that on his way back from the Cao residence last night, Young Master Shen encountered some trouble from the Canal Gang members who were causing trouble for Yong Sheng Escort Agency. It was Young Master Shen who stepped in and resolved the situation. Isn't Yong Sheng Escort Agency currently escorting goods for the Shen family? It seems someone is trying to tamper with the escort vehicle!"
"A tall tree catches the wind! Pan Shizhang of the Pan family has been making quite a few moves lately. I heard he's given a lot of silver to the Salt Transport Bureau and contacted many small salt merchants, seemingly trying to unite against the Shen family..."
As Su Moqing listened to these fragmented discussions, his heart tightened inexplicably. It turned out that he had experienced so much last night—dealing with Cao Jin's marriage proposal, refusing pressure from powerful figures, rescuing Yongsheng Escort Agency on the way back, navigating the power struggles of the Canal Gang, managing the vast Shen family business, and dealing with Pan Shizhang's schemes.
She suddenly felt that her father's words, "We are not on the same path," seemed too mild. What separated them was not just the gap between rich and poor, but two completely different worlds—her world was about ink, paper, inkstones, landscapes, flowers, and birds, while his world was about salt administration, canal transport, power struggles, and constant danger.
Su Moqing sighed softly, turned around and left "Moxiangzhai".
The sunlight shone on her, yet it made her feel a strange chill.
She knew that the distance between her and Shen Rulan was far greater than she had imagined.
The atmosphere inside the main hall of the Yangzhou Salt Transport Commissioner's Office was exceptionally relaxed.
Zhao Dexian, dressed in the official robes of a third-rank official, sat in a grand chair, toying with a string of jade beads in his hand, a satisfied smile on his face. On the table in front of him were two gift boxes—one from Pan Shizhang, containing a pair of top-quality Hetian jade bracelets, quite valuable; the other from the Shen family, containing a silver note for five thousand taels of silver, said to be a "voluntary" "gateway donation," far exceeding the usual amount in previous years.
"Hmm, it seems the Shen family is quite sensible." Zhao Dexian said to the clerk standing to the side, his tone tinged with pride. "Knowing that I am new here and need some money to bribe my superiors, they even took the initiative to send me a 'donation.' They are much more sensible than that old fox Pan Shizhang."
The clerk bowed and said, “Your Excellency is wise. The Shen family now holds a stable position among the salt merchants in Yangzhou. If we can win over the Shen family, it will greatly benefit your salt business. Although Pan Shizhang has also sent generous gifts, he is too ambitious and ruthless. If he is allowed to grow stronger, he may not listen to your discipline.”
Zhao Dexian raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with disdain: "Pan Shizhang? Nothing to fear. Does he think he can dominate the Yangzhou salt merchants by giving them some silver? He's too naive. The Shen family has been operating in Yangzhou for decades, with deep roots. How could he possibly shake them so easily?"
He paused, as if remembering something, and then asked, "By the way, has there been any movement from Pan Shizhang lately? I heard he's secretly contacting small salt merchants and is even planning to tamper with the Shen family's caravan?"
The clerk leaned closer and whispered, "Sir, you are well-informed. It is indeed true. A few days ago, Pan Shizhang sent someone to contact Hunjianglong of the Canal Gang, wanting the Canal Gang to tamper with the Yongsheng Escort Agency's caravan and destroy the salt goods that the Shen family was transporting to southern Anhui. However, the Yongsheng Escort Agency seems to have received the news and changed its route to the Qixia Mountain Ancient Road, avoiding the Canal Gang's sphere of influence."
Zhao Dexian pondered for a moment, then sneered: "Change course? Qixia Mountain Ancient Road? That place is high in the mountains and dense in the forest, perfect for an ambush. Since Pan Shizhang dared to make a move, he will definitely chase after us to Qixia Mountain. Let them make a scene! Dogs fighting, it'll only make things worse. It'll be a good opportunity for me to see just how capable Shen Rulan of the Shen family really is, and also to see just how ruthless Pan Shizhang really is."
He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, a calculating glint in his eyes: "As long as they don't interfere with the salt tax collection, or cause any major deaths and disrupt the peace of Yangzhou, we'll just pretend we don't know anything. The fiercer their fighting, the more advantageous it is for us—once they're both exhausted, we'll step in to clean up the mess. Then, whether it's the Shen family or the Pan family, they'll have to listen to us obediently. And won't we be in control of the salt trade then?"
The advisor quickly chimed in, "Your Excellency's insight is brilliant! This way, we don't have to lift a finger, yet we can reap the benefits without lifting a finger. It's truly ingenious!"
Zhao Dexian smiled with satisfaction, picked up the teacup on the table, and took a sip.
He didn't care about the fate of the Shen and Pan families; he only cared about his own political achievements and money. As long as he could make enough money during his tenure as the Salt Commissioner of Yangzhou and achieve some political success in "reorganizing the salt administration," he could be transferred back to the capital as soon as possible and get rid of this "remote place" in the Jiangnan water towns.
The ancient road of Qixia Mountain winds through the continuous mountain range, with the branches and leaves of the towering ancient trees overlapping, blocking out the sunlight and leaving only scattered shadows.
Sunlight struggled to penetrate the gaps in the leaves, casting shimmering spots of light on the gravelly road. When the wind blew, those spots of light trembled like startled butterflies on the heavy tarpaulin of the armored caravan.
The mountain road was extremely rugged. The wooden wheels of the mule cart rolled over the sharp bluestone, making a long, drawn-out "crunch-crunch" sound that was particularly jarring in the silent mountain forest.
Lin Xiao rode a chestnut horse at the head of the caravan, her fingers repeatedly stroking the carved shaft of her spear—ever since entering this path, her unease had been constant. At this time of year, the forest would usually be filled with birdsong and insect chirps, but today even the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves carried an eerie dullness, and a faint smell of kerosene wafted to her nose—a danger signal she had memorized through countless ambushes.
"Everyone, stay alert! Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open!" Lin Xiao reined in her horse and shouted a warning to the bodyguards behind her, her voice piercing through the thick forest. "Especially keep a close eye on the dense forest on both sides of the slope! Shout out any sound or movement, whether it's a living creature!" She emphasized her words—before changing the route yesterday, her father had privately mentioned to her that the Shen family had discovered that Pan Shizhang was secretly contacting bandits, and that he might be hiding behind some tree right now, watching them.
The bodyguards responded in unison, gripping their weapons tightly.
The veteran bodyguards moved their shields forward, their eyes fixed on the trees on either side. They all knew that Lin Xiao never spoke without evidence, and this serious warning meant he truly sensed the danger.
Suddenly, a flock of gray sparrows took flight from the woods a hundred meters ahead, their flapping wings jarringly loud in the deathly silence. Lin Xiao's pupils constricted—it wasn't wild animals that startled them; someone had moved in the woods!
"Ambush!" Lin Xiao's shout, sharp as ice, pierced the forest instantly. "Quick! Protect the caravan! Form the 'Fish Scale Formation'!"
Before the words had even finished, dozens of arrows wrapped in black cloth shot out from the dense forest on both sides, their tips whistling through the air, raining down on the caravan like a storm! "Watch out!" Lin Xiao swung his spear to parry, the shaft deflecting two arrows with a clang, but several caravan members still didn't react in time. Arrows pierced their armor and lodged in their shoulders, causing them to scream and fall to the ground, their blood instantly staining the rubble beneath them.
Immediately afterwards, twenty or thirty masked men in black rushed out of the woods, their steel knives gleaming coldly in the light.
They wore coarse cloth short jackets, with their trousers rolled up to their knees, revealing hideous scars on their calves; they were clearly outlaws who had spent years on the streets.
These people moved with astonishing speed, landing almost silently. They didn't fight or snatch the salt; they charged straight at the caravan. Some even had kerosene cans on their waists—their goal was crystal clear: to destroy the salt!
"Kill!" Lin Xiao's eyes were bloodshot. He squeezed his legs against the horse's belly, and his spear shot out like a silver dragon, accurately aiming at the black-clad man charging at the front.
The man tried to dodge, but was struck in the shoulder by the gust of gunfire. He screamed and fell to the ground, his steel knife rolling away with a clang.
She spurred her horse forward, thrusting her spear repeatedly, and two more men in black fell to the ground. But more people surged forward, gradually surrounding her.
The镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) quickly formed a "fish scale formation," with layers of shields protecting the镖车 (cart) and swordsmen counterattacking through the gaps.
But these bandits were too fierce. Even with their arms cut, they still roared and charged forward. Some even grabbed kerosene cans and lunged at the caravan. Luckily, the caravan master reacted quickly and used his knife to knock the cans away, spilling the kerosene on the ground without igniting it.
Lin Xiao quickly sustained several wounds. A cut appeared on her left arm, and blood flowed down her arm and into her sleeve, sticking to her tight-fitting clothes. She gritted her teeth and swung her spear faster and faster, but the men in black seemed endless. A gap had appeared on the right side of the defensive formation, and a short, stout man in black broke through the line, holding a lit tinderbox and trying to reach the tarpaulin covering the caravan!
"Stop!" Lin Xiao was anxious and wanted to rush over to stop them, but he was held back by two men in black. His spear was blocked by their steel blades and he couldn't move an inch.
As the tinderbox was about to touch the tarpaulin, she could even smell the pungent kerosene, and her heart was pounding in her throat.
At this critical moment, a cloud of dust suddenly rose from the mountain road behind them, and the rapid clatter of hooves came from behind, accompanied by a cold, clear voice asking, "What's all this commotion ahead?!"
Lin Xiao felt a sudden sense of relief—that voice belonged to Shen Rulan!
Shen Rulan arrived at high speed with more than ten guards from the Shen family. They were dressed in uniform black outfits, with swords at their waists, powerful bows on their backs, and quivers hanging from their saddles. They were clearly well-trained elites.
Shen Rulan reined in his horse and stopped at a slightly higher point. His gaze swept across the battlefield, and when he saw the black-clad man holding a tinderbox, his face instantly darkened.
"Help Chief Lin repel the enemy! Kill them without mercy!" Shen Rulan's command carried an unquestionable authority, and as soon as she finished speaking, the guards dismounted.
The guards of the Shen family responded in unison, drew their steel swords, and rushed into the battle.
Their kung fu was far superior to that of the men in black, and their knife skills were fast and ruthless. One of the guards stepped forward and knocked away the short, fat man's tinderbox with a single slash, then swung his knife again, and the man fell to the ground with a scream.
With the addition of fresh troops, the tense battle situation instantly turned around. The men in black gradually lost their grip, and the fierce look on their faces weakened.
Shen Rulan did not dismount, but remained standing on high ground, her sharp eyes sweeping across the battlefield.
She quickly identified the leader of the men in black—a tall, thin man with a mask on and a bronze skull bracelet on his wrist. His movements exuded ruthlessness, like a bandit leader who made a living by fighting and killing.
Shen Rulan swiftly took the powerful bow from the saddle, drew an arrow from the quiver, nocked it, and pulled it fully—all in one fluid motion.
Her gaze was frighteningly focused; instead of aiming at the leader's vitals, she aimed at his right shoulder—leaving him alive was the only way to find out who was behind it all.
"Whoosh!"
The arrow pierced the air with a sharp whistling sound, precisely striking the leader's right shoulder! The leader screamed in agony, his steel knife clattering to the ground. He clutched his wound and knelt down, his previous arrogance completely gone.
Seeing their leader captured and being routed by the guards of the Shen family, the men in black lost all will to fight.
One of the men in black shouted "Retreat!" and the rest of them abandoned their comrades' corpses and scrambled back into the woods, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Lin Xiao leaned on his spear, panting heavily, his outfit soaked in blood.
She walked up to Shen Rulan's horse, knelt on one knee, clasped her hands in a fist and said, "Thank you so much, Young Master Shen, for arriving in time! If it weren't for you, all five hundred shi of salt would have been destroyed! Lin Xiao owes the Shen family a life, and in the future, if you ever need my help, I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"
Shen Rulan dismounted and quickly helped her up, her gaze falling on her wounds, her tone filled with concern: "Chief Lin, there's no need for such formality. You're badly injured. My guards brought some wound medicine; let's treat it first before you leave?"
Lin Xiao shook his head, enduring the pain, and said, "It's just a minor injury, the salt is the priority."
The two men walked up to the caravans. Fortunately, only the tarpaulins on the two caravans had been splashed with kerosene, so they didn't catch fire, and the salt bags were all intact.
Shen Rulan walked over to the leader who had been shot by an arrow, signaled the guards to tie him up tightly, and squatted down to pull off his mask—it was a face full of scars, with a fresh wound on his chin, and he didn't look like a good guy.
"Speak! Who sent you?" Shen Rulan's tone was as cold as ice, and her eyes were so sharp they could pierce through a person. "Tell the truth, and I'll spare your life; if you dare to lie, you should know the methods of the Shen family."
A flicker of fear crossed the leader's eyes, but he still forced a smile: "No...no one sent us! We're just mountain bandits, trying to steal some silver..."
“Mountain bandits?” Shen Rulan sneered, pointing to the kerosene can at his waist. “Mountain bandits would specifically carry kerosene cans, only destroying salt and not stealing goods?” She stood up and said to the guard, “Take the man back and hand him over to Shen Fu for interrogation. I need to know who hired them and whether there are any follow-up actions.”
"Yes!" the guard replied, dragging the leader toward the horse.
Lin Xiao walked to Shen Rulan's side, looked at the corpse of the man in black on the ground, and said in a solemn tone: "Young Master Shen, these people are not ordinary bandits. They are ruthless and have a clear goal. They must have been hired by someone to destroy the salt. No one but Pan Shizhang would be so scheming."
“Yes,” Shen Rulan nodded, her eyes chillingly cold. “Pan Shizhang ran into trouble at the Salt Transport Office and didn’t get any favors on the official road, so naturally he’ll set his sights on Qixia Mountain. Fortunately, Grandmother received the news in advance and sent me to the estate today to ‘inspect the granary,’ but in reality, it was to support you.” This time she didn’t hide it—at this point, there was no need to keep her cards close to her chest.
Lin Xiao suddenly realized: "So Madam Shen had made arrangements all along! No wonder you arrived so just in time."
“We cannot stay here for long.” Shen Rulan glanced at the sky; the sun was already setting. “Pan Shizhang might send a second group of men. I will have the guards escort you out of Qixia Mountain to the post station at the foot of the mountain.”
Lin Xiao quickly thanked him, "Thank you for your thoughtful consideration, Young Master Shen!"
The setting sun dyed the mountains and forests golden red, and the afterglow spilled onto the rugged mountain road, giving the caravan and its people a warm glow.
Shen Rulan and Lin Xiao rode side by side, followed by guards, surviving bodyguards, and a mule cart loaded with salt, slowly making their way down the mountain.
The sounds of horses' hooves and wheels mingled together, echoing through the woods. Although a fierce battle had just taken place, a sense of peace had settled over the scene.
Looking at Shen Rulan's profile beside him, Lin Xiao suddenly understood why the Shen family was able to gain a foothold among the salt merchants in Yangzhou. This "Young Master Shen" looked weak, but he was more meticulous than anyone else, acted decisively, and knew how to plan ahead. Only a person like him could protect the Shen family's business in the turbulent business war.
But Chen Rulan felt no relief whatsoever.
Pan Shizhang's audacity in hiring people to tamper with government salt reserves signifies a complete breakdown in relations, and the ensuing confrontation will only intensify.
She looked up at the distant sunset and took a deep breath—no matter how dangerous the road ahead, she had to hold up the sky for the Shen family.
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